Dispensing apparatus and method for semi-solid product

ABSTRACT

Dispensing apparatus is primarily intended for dispensing product from product containers ( 12 ) by extrusion. In controlling discharge of product a flexible tube ( 25 ) is connected to the container outlet and the tube is engageable with drive means ( 29, 31 ) for deforming the tube and controlling product discharged along the tube to an outlet nozzle ( 26 ). Usually there will be valves towards the entry ( 27 ) and exit ( 28 ) of the flexible tube and the drive means engages the tube between the spaced positions.

This application is the U.S. national phase of International ApplicationNo. PCT/GB02/02772 filed 17 Jun. 2002 which designated the U.S. andclaims priority to Great Britain Patent Application No. 0114685.1 filed15 Jun. 2001, the entire contents of each of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for dispensing productsfrom containers, in particular the dispensing of products by extrusion,the product having a consistency suited to extrusion.

It has been proposed to dispense food products, such as ice cream, fromcontainers by extrusion and several kinds of containers have beenproposed for this purpose including a large multi-portion container andcontainers which are suited to dispensing a single portion of product.

In dispensing product from multi-portion containers, problems havearisen in arranging for portions to be dispensed without manualintervention, that is the delivery of portions has usually had to beachieved by manual operation of a valve.

An object of the invention is to provide a dispensing system and methodin which the dispensing of portions may be more easily controlled and,if necessary, without manual operation of the outlet valve.

According to one aspect, the invention provides a method of dispensingsemi-solid product by extrusion wherein a container of product ispressurised to cause the product to be discharged by extrusion throughan outlet from the container into a flexible tube, controlling the flowof product from the outlet through the tube to an outlet nozzle anddrive means for causing the flexible tube to be compressed to expressproduct from the tube towards the nozzle.

Preferably the flow of product is controlled by a first inlet valvebetween the container outlet and the flexible tube and a second outletvalve between the flexible tube and the nozzle.

The first valve may be opened to admit product into the tube with thesecond valve closed, the first valve may then be closed and the secondvalve opened, and then the drive means may then be operated to compressthe tube and express product in the tube through said nozzle which islocated downstream of the second valve.

Conveniently, operation of the drive means is controlled to express apredetermined portion of the product in the tube through the nozzle, thesize of the portion ranging between all said product in the tube and aproportion of said product.

The drive means may include tube engagement means which is moveablereciprocally towards and away from tube to compress the tube.

Preferably the first and second valves are spaced apart along the tubeto open and close the tube by reciprocal movement to engage, deform andclose the tube at said spaced positions.

The container outlet may be releasably connected to the tube, which tubeextends downwards towards the outlet nozzle which is shaped to shapeproduct discharged therethrough and which may be releasably attached tothe tube.

In one arrangement the drive means include tube engagement meansmoveable along the tube towards the outlet nozzle to discharge the tubecontents.

The tube engagement means may include a roller which engages the tube atone end thereof and moves towards the outlet nozzle after saidengagement.

The flow of product from the container may be controlled by an outletvalve between the tube and the nozzle, and by the drive means.Preferably the container and flexible tube are contained within arefrigerated environment, the nozzle projecting outwards from saidenvironment.

According to another feature of the invention there is providedapparatus for dispensing semi-solid product, comprising a container ofproduct, the container having an outlet, pressurising means for puttingproduct in the container under pressure to thereby extrude product fromthe outlet, flexible tube means communicating with the outlet at one endand with an outlet nozzle at the other end, drive means for engaging theflexible tube to deform the tube and cause product in the tube to bedischarged through said nozzle, and valve means for controlling the flowof product from the nozzle.

Preferably, the valve means includes a valve adjacent the nozzle, whichvalve controls the flow of product from the tube to the nozzle.

The valve means may include a further valve between the container outletand the tube to control flow of product to the tube.

The drive means conveniently includes a reciprocal drive member arrangedto engage the flexible tube to deform and flatten the tube whereby tocause product in the tube to be discharged from said nozzle.

In one arrangement the reciprocal member is moveable along the tubetowards said nozzle after engaging the tube.

The container outlet and the flexible tube may be releasably connectedto one another, and the tube is removable from the apparatus forreplacement and/or sanitising.

Preferably the container and the flexible tube are located in arefrigerated housing whereby to keep product frozen, the nozzleprojecting outwardly from the housing.

Further features of the invention will appear from the followingdescription of an embodiment of the invention given by way of exampleonly and with reference to the drawings, in which:—

FIG. 1 is a vertical, schematic section through one embodiment ofdispensing apparatus,

FIG. 2 is a vertical section of part of the apparatus of FIG. 1 at onestage of operation,

FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 in another stage of operation,

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 in another stage of operation,

FIG. 4A is a vertical section of that part of the apparatus of FIGS. 2-4with a modified drive,

FIG. 5 is a partial vertical section of an alternative arrangement ofthat shown in FIGS. 1-4,

FIG. 6 is an alternative drive arrangement to that shown in FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 6 showing one stage of operation,

FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 7 in another stage of operation,

FIG. 9 is a view corresponding to FIGS. 7 and 8 in another stage ofoperation,

FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIGS. 6-9 in another stage ofoperation,

FIG. 11 is a schematic vertical section through alternative apparatus tothat of FIG. 1 employing a different container,

FIG. 12 is a view of the apparatus of FIG. 11 showing recharging of acontainer,

FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B are embodiments of container suitable for use inthe FIG. 1 apparatus.

FIG. 14A is a vertical section through apparatus similar to that of FIG.1 employing the container of FIG. 13B,

FIG. 14B is a side elevation of the apparatus in FIG. 14A,

FIG. 15 is a side elevation of apparatus similar to that of FIG. 1employing two containers,

FIG. 16 is an elevation showing an alternative drive system fordispensing from containers,

FIG. 17 is a vertical section of apparatus similar to that of FIG. 1showing container removal arrangement,

FIG. 18 is a view corresponding to FIG. 17 showing another containerremoval arrangement,

FIG. 19A and FIG. 19B show container discharge means for the apparatusof FIG. 1 in alternative positions,

FIGS. 20A, 20B and 20C show a container drive arrangement with overloadprotection in three different positions,

FIGS. 21A, 21B and 21C show part of another container drive system withoverload protection, and

FIG. 22 shows in vertical section apparatus similar to that of FIG. 1with drive overload protection.

Referring to the drawings and firstly to FIGS. 1-4, there is shownapparatus for dispensing semi-solid or viscous ice cream product. Theapparatus includes a housing 10 which has refrigeration means 11 wherebythe interior of the housing 10 is kept at a suitable temperature,usually below freezing point, but sometimes above, suited to the foodproducts (usually ice cream product) to be dispensed. The housing 10 isarranged to have storage capacity for filled ice-cream containers 12 tobe dispensed. A container 12 ready to be dispensed is located on aseating 13 mounted within the housing 10.

The container 12 is formed with a base portion 14 and a closure 15 whichhas an upwardly directed deformable portion which, during dispensing ofproduct from within the container, is deformed by being inverted untilit adopts the contours of the inner surface of the base 14 by which timethe container contents are fully discharged. In this case, the outlet onthe container is formed with a nozzle 39 which tapers inwardly away fromthe container 12. The closure 15 is usually located over the base 14when the base has been filled with product to thereby seal thecontainer, the closure 15 fitting over the upper edges of the base 14.

The base 14 and the closure 15 are preferably heat-sealed to one anotherwhen filled. In some cases the container 12 is formed as a sealedassembly before the product is introduced into the container in whichcase the container is filled through the nozzle 39. Heat sealingprevents re-use of the container.

The container 12 is located on the seating 14 which has an opening inits base through which the nozzle 39 is directed. There is also providedan abutment plate 18 to resist the pressure exerted on the containerduring dispensing. Dispensing is caused by a drive arrangement 20 whichconsists of a plunger 21 mounted on a rod 22 and driven by a lineardrive arrangement 23, the linear drive arrangement usually taking theform of an electric motor, rotation of which is converted into a linearreciprocating movement of the plunger 21. The drive arrangement ismounted on the housing pivotable about a pivot axis 24.

The plunger 21 is arranged to engage the deformable portion of thecontainer 12 whereby to deform that portion downwardly towards the base14 and thereby discharging, by extrusion, ice cream from the containerthrough the nozzle 39, which has a smaller cross-section than thecontainer.

The nozzle 39 is releasably, sealingly connected to a flexible tube 25which extends downward from the outlet nozzle 39 and the tube 25 isintegral with or connected to a discharge nozzle 26 at its opposite end.

The tube 25 is sufficiently flexible to be deformed so that it issubstantially flat with one inner side wall of the tube engaging theopposite side wall. Alternatively, the tube 25 is deformable so that thetube retains a part circular shape over the portion into which the otherportion deforms, the tube being supported by a part circular support.

Associated with the flexible tube 25 are upper and lower valves 27 and28. The valves 27 and 28 are reciprocally moveable towards and away fromthe tube 25 whereby to pinch the tube and act to prevent product frompassing along the tube beyond the associated valve. For this purpose thehead of the valve is formed with a tapered end which extends across thewidth of the tube 25, in each case. Alternatively the heads of thevalves are shaped according to the shape of the tube support.

In addition to the valves 27 and 28 there is provided a reciprocallymoveable tube discharge plate 29 comprising a flat plate which isarranged to engage the tube 25 and cause the contents to pass downwardlyand out of the nozzle 26 when the valve 28 is open. Alternatively, theplate 29 is formed with a portion engaging the tube which is shapedaccording to the shape of the tube support, for example, part circular.

The valve 28 has drive means 30 to move the valve backwards and forwardsbetween a closed and an open position. Similarly the valve 27 has drivemeans 31 which causes movement of the valve head towards and away fromthe tube 25. As illustrated in FIG. 1 the drive means 31 also isarranged to move the drive plate 29 but the valve 27 and the drive plate29 may have separate drive means. The drive means are convenientlylinear drives which include an electric motor whose rotary movement isconverted into a linear movement, for example through a worm andworm-wheel.

There will now be described the sequence by which discharge ofcontainers 12 is achieved with particular reference to FIGS. 1-4.

In FIG. 1 the container 12 is put under pressure by engagement by theplunger 21, the valve 27 is in the open position and the valve 28 isclosed. The tube 25 fills with product extruded from a container 12 andpressure is released from the container 12 after a specific lapse oftime (FIG. 1) and the plunger 21 may be backed off from the container12.

The valve 27 is now closed to restrict further passage of product intothe tube 25 and valve 28 is opened. When the valve 27 has closed theupper end of the tube 25, the discharge member 29 begins to engage thetube 25, as shown in FIG. 2, so that product is discharged from the tube25 through the nozzle 26 into a receptacle for the product (not shown)which may be a cone or dish. Pressure of the member 29 continues to beapplied to the tube 25 so that product in the tube 25 can be fullydischarged from the nozzle 26 (FIG. 3). If desired, only a predeterminedportion of the product in the tube 25 may be discharged, movement of themember 29 being interrupted when the required amount has been dischargedand the drive means 31 may be programmed to move a measuredpredetermined amount or for a predetermined time depending, for example,on a prepayment made to the apparatus in coin-freed mode. Thus, forexample, half the amount in the tube 25 may be discharged for half thepayment required for discharge from the full tube.

More particularly the apparatus may be arranged to dispense anypreselected amount of product between complete discharge of the tube andminimum discharge. The user may be able to select the amount dispensedby the use of controls or buttons on the apparatus, for example, for 120ml, 180 ml or 250 ml, or by the amount of payment made by, for example,coin or note insertion, credit card or the like and one payment mayenable several portions of different sizes to be dispensed. The controlon the apparatus may include audible information to the user, forexample, by electronic voice information. The preselected amounts to bedispensed are transmitted to the dispensing means which moves todispense the selected amounts.

After the required amount has been discharged from the tube 25, thevalve 28 is moved to a closed position, as shown in FIG. 4. Thereafterthe member 29 and the valve 27 are withdrawn from engagement with thetube 25 so that the tube 25 may be refilled upon application of furtherpressure to the container 12.

In determining the quantity discharged, account is taken of a smallquantity discharged by operation of the valves.

It is usually not desirable for product in the container 12 to bepressurised for extended periods when not in use as this can affect thequality of the product in the container. Accordingly, control means maybe provided to automatically back off the plunger 21 from the containerafter a predetermined lapse of time since the apparatus was lastoperated. Backing off may move the plunger back a small distance fromthe container.

It will be appreciated that the drive 23 for the plunger 21 operates ata fixed speed which permits ready control of dispensing quantities fromthe container 12 by time and/or distance.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the member 29 and valve 27 are driven by a commondrive 31 but it will be appreciated that a further drive similar to thedrive 31 can be employed for operating the valve 27 so that this isoperated independently of the member 29. In the illustrated arrangement,using a common drive 31, the valve 27 incorporates spring means 33compressing to enable the valve 27 to take up said further movement. Anabutment plate 35 is provided behind the tube 25 to act as an abutmentto the compressive action on the tube 25 by the valves 27, 28, andmember 29.

Product discharging from the nozzle 26 is directed downwardly so thatthe product descends under gravity into the receptacle and there isprovided a drip tray 36 to receive any product falling from the nozzle26, there being defined a recess 37 in which the receptacle is held bythe operator.

The container 12 is formed with a tapering nozzle 39 which defines theoutlet from the container 12 and the nozzle is arranged to sealinglyengage into the upper end of the tube 25, the tube 25 being readilyreleasable from the nozzle 39 for replacement and/or cleaning. Themember 29 is conveniently attachable to the side of the tube 25 which itengages. After a dispensing action the member 29 may be moved rearwardsdrawing the tube with it which acts to draw back into the tube productwhich is below the member 29 and in the nozzle 26.

In order to readily release the tube 25 and associated nozzle forcleaning or replacement, the abutment plate 35 may be hinged to move itout of the way and access through a door into the housing permitsremoval of the tube, preferably without the use of tools. The tube 25may be washable or may be replaced.

Referring now to FIG. 4A there is shown the arrangement of FIGS. 1-4 inwhich the drives 30 and 31 are replaced by a single drive 32 directlyconnected to member 29 and valve 27 and connected by a gear wheel 34 tothe valve 28. The gear wheel 34 meshes with teeth on the member 29 andteeth on the support for the valve 28 so that as the member 29 moves inone direction the valve 28 moves in the opposite direction. The valve 28is provided with a spring 28A similar to the spring 33 for valve 27.

Thus a member 29 moves to pressurize the tube 25 the valve 28 movesrearwards to permit passage of product to the nozzle 26. A reversemovement has the opposite action and the valve 28 closes the bottom endof the tube 25.

Referring to FIGS. 5-10 there is shown an alternative to the reciprocalpushing member 29 in which product is discharged from the tube 25 by aroller 40 carried on the end of a rod 41 driven by reciprocal drivemeans 42. The drive means is carried on a pivot 43 for pivotal movementof the roller 40 up and down about the pivot 43. The roller 40 isarranged to engage the tube 25 towards the upper end of the tube tocompress the tube at its upper end and then to move down the tube,compressing the tube as it passes towards the lower end of the tube.Such downward movement of the roller 40 may be achieved by the axis ofthe guide means and rod 41 being inclined to the horizontal and when theroller has fully compressed the tube 25 it moves downwards towards thelower end of the tube, as seen in FIG. 6. Alternatively, the roller maybe located in a cam track 45 so that as the roller is extended it movesalong the cam track 25, initially inclined to the axis of the tube andthen over portion 45A extending in the longitudinal direction of thetube 25 (FIG. 5). In each case, the roller effects movement of theproduct from the tube 25 and through the nozzle 26 when the valve 28 isopened.

In the arrangement of FIGS. 5 and 6 it may be possible to omit the valve27 since the roller 40 will close the upper end of the tube 25 in itsinitial movement and, as the roller 40 moves down the tube furtherproduct can be admitted to the upper end of the tube behind the roller.An alternative arrangement for the cam track is shown in FIG. 5 in whichthe cam track itself is pivoted about its lower end at 47.

It will be appreciated that the nozzle 26 is shaped to shape productbeing discharged, usually in a star shape to give an attractiveappearance to the product.

It will also be appreciated that with the use of the roller arrangement40, the roller can pass along the tube a predetermined amount todischarge a predetermined quantity of the product which may be less thanthe total product contained within the tube 25. After the roller 40 hasmoved a predetermined amount, the valve 28 is closed to prevent furtherdischarge. The full sequence of emptying the tube 25 is shown in FIGS.6-10.

The tube 25 may have at each end flanges 25A by which the ends of thetube are located and locked in the apparatus. The nozzle 26 is arrangedto be slideable into the housing and the abutment plate 35 is hinged sothat upon opening the front door of the housing 10 and moving the plateaway, the nozzle is removeable.

Instead of the tube 25 being engageable with the plate 35 it may belocatable inside a rigid housing and may be made fixed to the housing sothat the tube is removeable for cleaning. It may also be arranged thatthe tube 25, nozzle 26 and plate 35 are integral and removeable as aunit and made of material suitable for sanitising, such as steel orplastics.

The container 12 may be located on a support which, when the plunger ismoved upwards clear of the container, is slideable forwards on guides(not shown) to access the container support and replace the container inits support. Alternatively the support 13 for the container 12 may behinged to allow the support to be pivoted forwards to remove and replacethe container with support 13.

Turning now to FIGS. 11 and 12 there is shown an alternative form ofapparatus in which the same reference numbers are used for similarparts. Thus, there is a housing 10, the interior of which isrefrigerated by refrigeration means 11 contained in the base of thehousing. A similar form of portion control mechanism is employed as forthe previous embodiment including valves 27 and 28, a pushing member 29engaging a flexible tube 25 into which product is extruded from acontainer. However, in this case the container is different from thecontainer 12 of the previous embodiment and is shown at 50 in FIG. 12.It is generally cylindrical and collapsible having an outlet nozzle 51extending from one end in the lateral direction. The container 50 is forlocation within a cylinder 52 having a piston 53 at one end moveablealong the cylinder towards the other end to compress the container 50and cause it to reduce in volume, discharging product from the containerunder such pressure through the outlet 51. In this case the piston 53 ismoved by a linkage 54, generally termed scissors or a lazy tongs linkagewhich is moved towards an expanded position, FIG. 11, by a drivearrangement 55 having a rod 56 one end of which is attached to thelinkage 54 whereby upon retraction of the rod 56 the linkage 54 isexpanded to move the piston along the cylinder 52. In the operatingposition of FIG. 11 the end of the cylinder 52 is closed by an abutmentmember 58 against which the container 50 is engaged. The nozzle 51extends through a side opening in the cylinder 52 to lie in sealingengagement with the tube 25. The linkage 54 is used to allow thedimensions between the front and back of the apparatus to be kept to aminimum.

The cylinder 52 is pivotable about a pivot 60 by operation of a drive 62which moves the end of the cylinder remote from the outlet up and downwhereby to expose the container 50 (FIG. 12) from the abutment 58 andallow access to the container 50 whereby to enable the container to beremoved from the cylinder 52 when empty, and for full containers 50 tobe located within the cylinder 52, when required. The container 50 isgenerally formed of flexible plastics material to enable it to collapseas product is discharged therefrom. In another arrangement the containeris discharged by a piston within the container.

Referring now to FIGS. 13A and 13B there is shown two forms of containersimilar to that shown FIGS. 1-4, the container of FIG. 13A having asingle outlet nozzle 39 located centrally of the base 14 of thecontainer, the nozzle 39 tapering inwardly away from the container. Thebase 14 is of generally circular section and has a curved profile andextends upwardly to define a shoulder 65 and then an outwardly taperingupper portion 66 terminating in a lip 67. The container has an upperclosure member 15 of which the central portion 15A is deformable andinvertible to move downwardly into the curvilinear portion of the base14 so that when the container is discharged fully the portion 15A liesclosely adjacent the base 14. The outer part of the closure 15 has anupwardly directed portion 68 whose upper edge extends over the lip 67 tosecure the closure 15 on the base 14 by mechanically locking. If desiredthe closure 15 and the base 14 are secured together by heat-sealing.This may be done after the container has been filled with product.Alternatively the closure 15 may be sealed on the base 14 beforeadmitting product to the container in which case product is admitted tothe container through the nozzle 39.

Other shapes of container can also be employed, for example, rectangularwith radiused corners.

The container of FIG. 13B is similar to that of FIG. 13A except that inthis case two outlet nozzles 39 are formed in the base 14. The twinnozzle arrangement permits apparatus to be employed in which there aretwo discharge paths for product from the container, as shown in FIGS.14A and 14B. Thus, if required two receptacles can be filled at the sametime from the same container at the same or different rates and with thesame or different quantities of product in each receptacle. Theapparatus of FIGS. 14A and 14B may in other respects be similar to theapparatus of FIGS. 1-4 except two sets of valves and discharge membersare provided, one for each path of product.

Sauces or other additional product can be dispensed at the outlet area,for example, using a liquid pump, with the possibility of a differentsauce for each outlet.

Referring now to FIG. 15, there is shown apparatus in which twocontainers 12 may be employed at the same time, there being two plungers21, one for each container, and one or two discharge paths from the twocontainers. If there is one discharge path then one container provides aback up for the container which is being used. If two discharge pathsare provided, there may be two discharge operations which can beeffected simultaneously and each container may contain differentproduct.

In the arrangement with one discharge path there is provided a three waymanifold valve 69 by which supply may be switched from one or other ofthe containers 12, when one becomes empty, and the operation may beautomatic. The front of the housing 10 is provided with doors 68 one foreach side of the housing to access one or other of the individualdispensers. Dispensing may continue when the container at one side isbeing changed. A central division is provided between the two dispensersto prevent access to the working parts of the operational dispenserduring refilling.

Referring now to FIG. 16 there is shown an arrangement for use on theapparatus of FIGS. 1-4 whereby the discharge plunger may be moved andput to one side of the container, or to the back or front of thecontainer, between operative movements of the plunger 21. Thus as theplunger 21 is moved upwardly from engagement from the container 12 itmoves along a cam track 70 having two portions 70A and 70B of whichportion 70A lies along the axis of compressive movement of the plungerand portion 70B is inclined thereto. The drive means 23 is pivotallyattached at 24 so that as the plunger moves upwards a pin 71 carried onthe rod 22 passes upwards along the portion 70A and then side ways alongthe portion 70B of the track, the drive 23 pivoting to one side. In thelatter position, the plunger has moved to give more ready access to anempty container 12 which can then be released from the seating 13 and afull container replaces the empty one, access being obtained to thecontainer through a door in the front of the housing 10.

Referring to FIG. 17 a similar requirement is met by the drive 23 beingdisplaceable about axis 24 to give access to the empty container 12,this time through a rear door 74 into the housing 10.

FIG. 18 shows the drive 23 displaced rearwards, for example, by thearrangement of FIG. 16 to give access to recharging the container 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 19A and 19B, there is shown an arrangement bywhich overload, or maximum selected load, in the drive 23 is detected bya simple mechanical arrangement. As shown, the drive 23 is carried on apivot 24 carried on a rod 75. The rod 75 in turn carries an arm 76moveable between lower and upper switches 77 and 78. A fixed abutmentplate 79 is located on the rod 75 and a domed spring 80 extends betweenthe fixed member 79 and the lower end of the rod 75. Normally the spring80 is fully extended and the arm 76 engages with the switch 77. If thepressure in the drive 23 exceeds a predetermined high value, thepressure overcomes the resistance of the spring 80 and the rod 75 withthe arm 76 moves upwards so that the arm 76 engages with the switch 78and tells the drive that too much, or the selected pressure is beingapplied and switches off the drive. This situation may arise if thedrive has reached the end of its travel and the container is empty.Alternatively, if the product within the container is too hard toextrude, then the drive signals this fact and interrupts the drivearrangement. FIG. 19B shows the drive and associated spring 80 whendrive pressure has been exceeded.

Referring now to FIGS. 20A-20C, there is shown a further drive overloadarrangement similar to that of FIGS. 19A and 19B having a drive 82 androd 83, the drive 82 being connected at one end to a further rod 84about which are located springs 85 and 86, one to each side of a fixedabutment 87, there being an arm 88 extending from the rod 84 and the armbeing engageable with switches 89 and 90.

Thus, on extension of the drive 82 in one direction with a forcesufficient to exceed a predetermined pressure, the spring 85 willcompress and cause the switch 90 to be operated. In the other direction,the spring 86 will be compressed and cause the switch 89 to be operated.This arrangement is for particular application to the apparatus of FIGS.11 and 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 21A, 21B and 21C there is shown a furtherarrangement for detecting pressure overload. This is similar to those inthe previous embodiments except that in this case the rod 75 has locatedaround it two domed springs 92 and 93, in series, which are arranged tooperate at different pressures so that upon the force applied exceedinga first predetermined value, one spring 92 is compressed and at a higherpredetermined pressure, spring 93 is compressed. This causes the arm 76to operate a series of three switches 94, 95 and 96 in sequence, therebyenabling control of the operation of the drive within three pressureparameters. More than two sets of springs can be used to give morepressure parameters.

FIG. 22 shows the incorporation of the drive overload system of FIGS.19A and 19B in to apparatus similar to that of FIGS. 1-4 except that inthis case, the tube 25 has a simple cut off valve 97 which, when open,permits discharge of product through nozzle 26 and, when closed,prevents discharge of product from the container 12. There is then nocontrol of individual portions in the manner of the previous embodiment.The valve 97 simply controls the flow from the container on an off/onbasis. However, there may be control of the time the valve 97 isoperated thereby controlling the amount of product dispensed bypreselection.

The overload arrangement functions to tell the operator when a containerhas emptied or when product within the container is too hard to bedischarged. It can be confirmed whether the container is empty bylinking the signal to the main drive to determine ‘empty’ as opposed to‘too hard’. A light signal can then be used as an indication.

Instead of using linear or mechanical drives for the discharge of thecontainer contents and operation of the valve and tube discharge otherdrive means may be employed, for example, pneumatically hydraulically onother drive media. The use of linear drives which operate at constantspeeds enables the apparatus to be controlled by the position of themoveable terms and in accordance with the time for which the drives havebeen operating which eases the control of the apparatus. However,proximity switches can be used to detect when various operations can beperformed.

The housing 10 is refrigerated to retain product in the container at thedesired dispensing temperature. However if containers are stored in thehousing and introduced at lower than dispensing temperature this willhave the effect of lowering the temperature in the housing. Accordingly,the housing may have heater means as well as cooling means to heat upthe internal space as well as to keep the product and the air within thehousing at the required low temperature. Alternatively stored containersmay be held in a compartment separate from the main body of the housingin which compartment heating can take place to raise the temperature ofthe product to a dispensing temperature. It is also helpful to haveventilation/circulating air within the housing. It may also be helpfulto be able to select the temperature within the housing or part thereofaccording to the product to be dispensed when different products havedifferent dispensing temperatures.

1. A method of dispensing semi-solid product by extrusion from acontainer of product, comprising: (a) applying pressure to the exteriorof the container of product to cause the product to be discharged byextrusion through a container outlet from the container into a flexibletube; (b) controlling the flow of product from the container outletthrough the flexible tube to an outlet nozzle, wherein controlling theflow of product comprises using a first inlet valve between thecontainer outlet and the flexible tube and a second outlet valve betweenthe flexible tube and the outlet nozzle; and (c) compressing theflexible tube using a drive means to express product from the flexibletube towards the outlet nozzle.
 2. The method according to claim 1,wherein the first valve is opened to admit product into the flexibletube with the second valve closed, the first valve is then closed andthe second valve opened, and the drive means is then operated tocompress the flexible tube and express product in the flexible tubethrough said outlet nozzle downstream of the second valve.
 3. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein operation of the drive means is controlledto express a predetermined portion of the product in the flexible tubethrough the nozzle, the size of the portion being adjustable to rangebetween all the product in the flexible tube and a proportion of theproduct in the flexible tube.
 4. The method according claim 1, whereinthe drive means includes a tube engagement means which is movablereciprocally towards and away from the flexible tube to compress theflexible tube.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first andsecond valves are spaced along the flexible tube to open and close theflexible tube by reciprocal movement to engage, deform and close theflexible tube at said spaced locations.
 6. The method according to claim1, wherein the container outlet is releasably connected to the flexibletube, the flexible tube extending towards the outlet nozzle which isshaped to shape a product discharged therethrough.
 7. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the drive means includes a tube engagementmeans moveable along the flexible tube towards the outlet nozzle todischarge the flexible tube contents.
 8. The method according to claim1, wherein the container and the flexible tube are contained within arefrigerated environment, the outlet nozzle projecting outwards fromsaid environment.
 9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the tubeengagement means includes a roller which engages the flexible tubetowards one end thereof and moves towards the outlet nozzle after saidengagement.
 10. An apparatus for dispensing semi-solid product,comprising: (a) a product container, the container having an outlet; (b)a pressurizing means for applying pressure to the exterior of thecontainer to thereby extrude product from the outlet; (c) a flexibletube comprising a first end and a second end, the first endcommunicating with the outlet of the container and the second endcommunicating with a nozzle; (d) a drive means for engaging the flexibletube to deform the flexible tube and cause product in the flexible tubeto be discharged through the nozzle; and (e) a valve means forcontrolling the flow of product from the nozzle, the valve meanscomprising a first valve adjacent to the nozzle, wherein the first valvecontrols the flow of product from the flexible tube to the nozzle, and asecond valve between the outlet and the flexible tube to control flow ofproduct to the flexible tube.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 10,wherein the drive means includes a reciprocal drive member arranged toengage the flexible tube to deform and flatten the flexible tube tocause product in the flexible tube to be discharged from the nozzle. 12.The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the outlet and the flexibletube are releasably connected to one another and the flexible tube isremovable from the apparatus for replacement and/or sanitizing.
 13. Theapparatus according to claim 11, wherein the reciprocal drive member ismoveable along the flexible tube towards said nozzle after engaging theflexible tube.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein thecontainer and the flexible tube are located in a refrigerated housing tokeep the product frozen, the nozzle projecting outwardly from thehousing.
 15. A method of dispensing semi-solid product by extrusion froma container of product, comprising: (a) applying pressure to theexterior of the container of product to cause the product to bedischarged by extrusion through a container outlet from the containerinto a flexible tube; (b) controlling the flow of product from thecontainer outlet through the flexible tube to an outlet nozzle; and (c)compressing the flexible tube using a drive means to express productfrom the flexible tube towards the outlet nozzle; wherein the containeroutlet is releasably connected to the flexible tube, the flexible tubeextending towards the outlet nozzle which is shaped to shape a productdischarged therethrough.
 16. A method of dispensing semi-solid productby extrusion from a container of product, comprising: (a) applyingpressure to the exterior of the container of product to cause theproduct to be discharged by extrusion through a container outlet fromthe container into a flexible tube; (b) controlling the flow of productfrom the container outlet through the flexible tube to an outlet nozzle;and (c) compressing the flexible tube using a drive means to expressproduct from the flexible tube towards the outlet nozzle, wherein thedrive means includes a tube engagement means movable along the flexibletube towards the outlet nozzle to discharge the flexible tube contents.17. An apparatus for dispensing semi-solid product, comprising: (a) aproduct container, the container having an outlet; (b) a pressurizingmeans for applying pressure to the exterior of the container to therebyextrude product from the outlet; (c) a flexible tube comprising a firstend and a second end, the first end communicating with the outlet of thecontainer and the second end communicating with a nozzle; (d) a drivemeans for engaging the flexible tube to deform the flexible tube andcause product in the flexible tube to be discharged through the nozzle;and (e) a valve means for controlling the flow of product from thenozzle; wherein the outlet and the flexible tube are releasablyconnected to one another and the flexible tube is removable from theapparatus for replacement and/or sanitizing.